Poki Bowl has two new restaurants coming soon to Frisco and Trophy Club, respectively.
The Frisco location will open at 16710 FM 423, occupying suite 100. Community Impact reported in December that the restaurant is planning to open in February. But in an email to What Now Dallas, owner Shane Smith said it looks like mid-March will be the actual opening.
“Frisco is one of the most rapidly growing cities in the nation. I grew up in Richardson and watched Plano blossom in the 80’s and 90’s,” Smith shared when asked why Frisco was a good market to bring the brand to. “Frisco has seen rapid growth, but at a controlled pace, over the 13 years that I have lived here. With the PGA moving its headquarters close to my location and all of the other planned projects we are excited to be part of the expansion that the NW quadrant of Frisco will experience over the next several years.”
Smith, who has a background in the financial services industry, said the COVID pandemic changed his perception of working for corporate America.
“I wanted to do something on my own and dictate my own success. I personally had a heart attack four years ago and so eating healthy and other things became more important,” Smith said.
Noting that Texas will always love its hamburgers, Smith says the younger generation is looking for a healthier, more creative food option.
“My kids, who are as picky eaters as you’ll find, share my love of poke – they almost obsess over it!” Smith said. “Poki Bowl is aligned in my thinking and the CEO, Nick Nguyen, has built and developed a strong brand in the San Jose area that is expanding rapidly nationwide.”
Smith is currently signed on to bring three locations to North Texas and “hopefully that’s just the beginning!”
Poki Bowl Frisco will offer dine in, limited outdoor seating, online ordering and delivery.
The Trophy Club location will open at 2240 TX-114 in the Trophy Club Town Center, a 26-acre mixed-use development that opened in 2020. According to a recent project filing, the building for the fast casual restaurant will be a new construction and is expected to be completed by March.
Owner Brian Lehrmann was unable to share an opening date as of yet. “We are in the very beginning stages,” he said.
Poke (pronounced po-kay) is a traditional Hawaiian dish of diced raw fish that is served either as an appetizer or a main course. As the dish has become more popular in the States, some restaurants have changed the spelling to “poki” or “poké” to make it easier for guests to pronounce.
Launched in 2015 in San Jose, California, Poki Bowl has seen rapid growth and is dedicated to providing both quality service and quality poke. “People think that poke is just a trend, something that’s just mainstream and in the moment. The truth of the matter is, poke has been a Hawaiian tradition for thousands of years,” the brand’s website reads. “At Poki Bowl, we’ve taken the traditional island dish and infused our Asian touch to bring it to the mainland.”
At the restaurants, guests will be able to build their own poke bowls choosing from a base of rice, mixed greens and chips. Protein options include ahi tuna, spicy tuna, salmon, yellow tail, octopus and shrimp. Veggies, sauces, and toppings such as avocado, crab meat, wasabi, edamame and seaweed salad will also be offered. Macaron ice cream desserts, courtesy of Mavens Creamery, are also on the menu.
Poki Bowl has a third Texas location in the works for San Antonio.
Note: This article has been updated since its original publication to include comment from the owners.
